Sacheon-si Gwangpoman Designated as the 16th Coastal Wetland Protected Area in Korea

by Choi Sungkyung

Published 24 Oct.2023 08:56(KST)

Updated 05 Aug.2025 20:32(KST)

The Largest Domestic Habitat of Sesuvium Portulacastrum and White-Clawed Fiddler Crabs

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designated the Gwangpo Bay tidal flat (3.46㎢) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, which is rich in biodiversity, as a wetland protection area.

The Gwangpo Bay tidal flat, adjacent to Daejin-ri in Gonyang-myeon and Jodo-ri in Seopo-myeon, Sacheon City, is the largest domestic habitat of Zostera marina (a perennial grass of the Poaceae family) and home to species such as the black-headed gull and white-footed fiddler crab.

However, it was once at risk of disappearing due to industrial complex development in the early 2000s.

A panoramic view of Gwangpoman, Jodori, Seopori, Gonyang-myeon, Sicheon-si.

In response, the Ministry of Environment and Sacheon City made efforts to incorporate Gwangpo Bay, which has the largest Zostera marina habitat and high natural ecological value, into a national park.

In particular, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries judged that a consensus among local residents on the conservation of Gwangpo Bay had been formed and began reviewing the designation of the area as a wetland protection site starting in March.

Following procedures including collecting residents' opinions in May, conducting a marine ecosystem survey of Gwangpo Bay in July, and holding a public hearing and gathering opinions from related ministries in September, it was designated as the 16th wetland protection area in Korea.

The city expressed that concerns about restrictions on nearby area development due to the wetland protection designation possibly hindering regional development are “completely unfounded.”

The wetland protection area includes only the sea public waters (tidal flats) without land lot numbers, so there are no restrictions on development activities on private land.

Rather, Sacheon City believes that the participatory management of the wetland protection area by residents and the increased value of tourism resources will be positive factors for regional development.

Mayor Park Dongsik urged, “Please take active interest so that the outstanding marine ecological resources of Gwangpo Bay are well preserved for future generations and can be reborn as tourism resources that drive regional development.”